Teen arrested in threat at Lakeside Jr/Sr HS

A 17-year-old student at Lakeside Jr./Sr. High School in Webster Parish has been arrested and charged with making terroristic threats, after a note was found at the school on Thursday afternoon.

The note, found on a wall at the school, said "err body gonna die in this [expletive] 12-9-13."

Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton says school surveillance video helped lead investigators identify 17-year-old Jeremy Smith as a suspect. Sexton says Smith was questioned Friday evening and admitted to leaving the threatening note in a bathroom at the school.

In addition to the confession, handwriting samples provided by Smith provided a match, according to Sexton. In addition to the terroristic threat charge, Smith is charged with pornography, after investigators found what appeared to be child pornography on Smith's phone.

Smith has been booked into the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. His bond has been set at $15,000.

No classes were canceled as a result of the threat.

Webster Parish Middle School Supervisor Charlotte Dean says law enforcement was notified of the
threat, and "preventative measures" were planned after the note was
found, including additional security on campus on Friday and on
Monday.

Dean says parents received an automated phone call Friday evening informing them of the threat and actions taken by the school to ensure the safety of the students, and assuring parents that "the board will ask law enforcement to vigorously prosecute those persons responsible."

That's not good enough for Vernella Hanson, who wants to know why parents weren't notified of the threat on Thursday. "I feel I should have been called last night, my child would not have been at school, that should have been my choice."